The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-04-16
AT HENRY OLAY'S OLD HONE.
The Great Kentuckian's Descendants and
How They Live Today.

The Great Kentuckian's Descendants and
How They Live Today.
Letter to the Chicago Tribune.
1t was late in the afternoon when
rang the bell to the main entrance to the
mansion. A bright eyed young miss re-
sponded and as | handed her my card |
realized at once, not without slight
feeling of emotion, too. that was being
greeted 10y the great-grauddaughte OF
Henry Clay. Young as she is, she evil
IDENTIFY knows what Kentucky hospitality
is, for without CHANGING at the card even,
she ushered her visitor into noble draw
ing room, where 3 bright coal fire was
blazing. 1t is an imposing mansion, this
historic home of the Clays. The first en-
trance is into large square hall finished
in polished ash and toored with hard
wood, which no covering but a rug con
ceals. To the left as one enters is the
study of Henry Clay-his own work
room, where he studied, wrote and re-
ceived his political and other friends.
Directly ahead as one enters the front
door is a broad entrance to a double
drawing room richly furnished and adorn-
ed with pictures and family portraits
covered library lined with polished wood
throug bout. The shelves on all sides
contain thousands of volumes. many of
great value. To the right of the square
hall and in one corner rises broad and
richly designed staircase OF polished ash.
Major Mcdowell greeted his visitor
cordially and very cheeriully gave him
such information about the old place AS
"a a h
land ana all were made welcome. Tn
fortunately, there were but lew relics Of
the old times or the old occupants, but
the Major showed "a picture OF curious
old beustead used by his wife's grand
parents, now i'll p, secession Of another
mber of tn. family.
One can see the the Ma or himself is
not much OF al Antiquarian, and that his
bump of reverence Tor a distinguished
ancestry was either never developed or
has shIiveled up i'll the Constant presence
OF his SURROUNDINGS. think no law OF
hospit ality is violated in the remark Ri 1t
| teheve the Major would much rather
talk horse than Henry Cray. It was
pretty hard to keep HIM OFF the subject
of Dictator colt and King Rene iilhes.
The Major, however, showed portrait
OF Henry Clay, hanging Ill the hall at
the age of forty, painted by Matthew
Jouelt, Kentucky artist; also all old
daguerreotl pc OF the man al sixty seven,
from which The above sketch is taken.
The house and its ii tings are so modern
aud the latter are SO elegant. Tor Major
Mcdowell is a man OF wealth, that one
finds more Interesting i'll searching for
"reminiscences OF Clay to wander about
the GROUNDS gaze upon the trees he
planted with his own hands, upon the
outbuiluings, such as the old barn and
the ice-houses that are as ohey we've hall
"a Century ago, and walk in the paths he
laid out and graded. The view from the
front of the mansion is IL beautiful one.
1t takes i'll the panorama the town oi
Lexington, aud mile beyond the Clay
monument pierces the heavens, "A tiny Oh
j.ct, but well clear and we'll detiued.
The only son of Henry Clay alive is
John NJ. Clay, whose residence and tae
stables of his spring OF thoroughbreds
are in plain view of Ashland. John NJ.
is nothing more than very respectable
citizen He has inherited noLe oi his
fathers great mental gifts.
The eldest son was James e. Clay,
whom TAYLOR put into the diplomatic
service. He Inherited Ashland from his
father, and during the war, it will be lie
mem bered, became "a rank SeceSsiunist,
and To save himself from trouble took
refuge III Canada He died without is
sue. Henry Clay, Jr the favorlte sep,
went to the Mexican war as lieutenant
colorel of a Kentucky regiment, and y as
killed at Buena Vista. His only child. a
daughter, is the wife Of Major Mcdowell
and the mother OF grown young men
Just out OF Yale Thomas II. Clay. an
other son, was appointed by President
Lincoln Minister to Nicaragua. He was
quite prominent in politics as a Republi
can, but he, too, died some time after
the war. And so arc fast winding in
numbers the older of the descendants OF
Henry Clay.